Lamarsh 1848 Whites Directory
LAMARSH, a pleasant village on the western side of the river Stour and the Stour Valley Railway, 6 miles N.E. of Halstead, has in its parish 404 souls, and 1210A. 2R. 32P. of fertile land, varying from a rich sandy loam, excellent for turnips, to a strong soil on which hops have been grown. The parish rises boldly from the lowlands near the river. When excavating for the railway here, in 1848, manyfossil bones of the mammoth were found. The manorial rights belong to the patrons of the church, but the soil is mostly freehold, and belongs to T.’ P. Parmenter, Esq. , owner of the neat mansion and estate of Dowes Hall; Chas. Townsend, Esq. , the Executors of the late T. Messent, Mr. John Nott, and a few smaller owners.
The Church ( Holy Innocents,) is a small structure of great antiquity, and has a massive round tower. The nave and chancel are separated by a wooden screen, and at the east end are three narrow lancet windows. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £12. Os. 2d. , and in 1831 at £392, is in the patronage of Messrs. Downes and Sperling, and in the incumbency of the Rev. James Sperling, M.A., of Great Maplestead. The Parsonage is a small but neat residence, and the glebe is 934. 18. 11P.
The tithes were commuted in 1840, for £416.10s. per annum. The poor have a yearly rent charge of £2, left by John Smythe, and the interest of £15 given by John Clarke and another donor. They have also 20s. a year from Wincoll’s Charity, as noticed with Alphamstone.
Cooper Charles, shoemaker
Duffield Rev. Roger Dawson, M.A., curate, Rectory
Hellen Richard. maltster & vict. Lion
Messent Zaccheus, beerhouse & shopkeeper.
Mussett John, bricklayer
Parmenter Thomas. Piper, Esq. Dowes Hall
Sidey William, beerhouse
Underwood John, wheelwright
FARMERS.
Bibby Robert, Shrubs Farm
Nott John
Sadler Samuel
Prentice Branwhite, Fishpits
Sandle William, Lamarsh Hall
Webber Thomas (and maltster)